Langzhong (formerly known as Paoning) is a county-level city in northeastern Sichuan province, China, located on the middle reaches of the Jialing River. It is administered as part of the prefecture-level city of Nanchong. Langzhong has a total population of 622,667, with 303,044 residing in the urban area in 2020. Langzhong is famous for its historic centre, home to 30,000 of its residents. It is one of the best preserved historic towns of China, dating back to the Tang dynasty. The city was also the seat of the former Anglican Diocese of Szechwan.

History

The site of present-day Langzhong served for a time as the capital of Ba, a native but sinicized Sichuan state during China's Warring States period. It takes its present name from its role as the seat of Langzhong County, established by Qin two years after its 316 BC conquest of Shu and Ba. Under the Han and Tang, it was an important center for astronomical research. Under the Yuan, Ming, and Qing, it was known as Baoning. Over the late imperial period, it served as Sichuan's provincial capital for a total of ten years. It was well known for its salt wells. It has also long been an important military town of Sichuan. The old town of Langzhong is built according to Feng shui principles. The dedicated military, trade and residential quarters of the town are located in a location corresponding to a particular element in Feng shui. The town itself is position centrally with respect to 4 mountains around it. Since 1985, the PRC government has awarded Langzhong with various accolades on three separate occasions. In 1986 the State Council named it a famous and historical town. In 1991, it was finally upgraded to county-level city status.

Geography

Langzhong is located in the northeast of the province and the northern part of the Sichuan Basin on the middle reaches of the Jialing River. Within the city's administrative area, elevations generally increase from southwest to northeast and range from 328 m to 888 m, while rivers flow for 59.4 km. The area is dominated by low-lying mountains and hills.

Climate

As with much of the rest of the province, Langzhong has a monsoon-influenced humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cwa), with dry, temperate winters, and long, hot, humid summers. The monthly daily average temperature ranges from 6.1 °C in January to 26.7 °C in July. The frost-free period lasts 290 days per year, while annual sunshine amounts to 1,400 hours. Close to two-thirds of the annual rainfall occurs from June to September.

Administrative divisions

Langzhong comprises 5 subdistricts, 19 towns, 3 townships and 1 ethnic township: • Baoning Subdistrict (保宁街道) • Shaxi Subdistrict (沙溪街道) • Qili Subdistrict (七里街道) • Jiangnan Subdistrict (江南街道) • Hexi Subdistrict (河溪街道) • Pengcheng Town (彭城镇) • Baiya Town (柏垭镇) • Feifeng Town (飞凤镇) • Siyi Town (思依镇) • Wencheng Town (文成镇) • Erlong Town (二龙镇) • Shitan Town (石滩镇) • Laoguan Town (老观镇) • Longquan Town (龙泉镇) • Qianfo Town (千佛镇) • Wangya Town (望垭镇) • Miaogao Town (妙高镇) • Hongshan Town (洪山镇) • Shuiguan Town (水观镇) • Jinya Town (金垭镇) • Yutai Town (玉台镇) • Mulan Town (木兰镇) • Wuma Town (五马镇) • Tiangong Town (天宫镇) • Qiaolou Township (桥楼乡) • Boshu Hui Ethnic Township (博树回族乡) • Fengzhan Township (峰占乡) • Hefeng Township (鹤峰乡)

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